Our View: Burns, Enea prove they can lead city

November 04, 2006 12:00 am

Crescent City voters face the pleasant prospect on Tuesday of choosing from five earnest candidates for City Council. All have been actively involved in the community by volunteering or serving on civic boards. All share similar visions for the city: expanding tourism and the business base, increasing public safety and enhancing residents' quality of life.

But voters only can cast ballots for two candidates. And all things being equal, voters ought to stick with the two incumbents: Dennis Burns and Rich Enea.

The three challengers, while good candidates, simply haven't made the case that they'll do anything differently or better than the incumbents.

And Burns and Enea have proven that they can lead the community in the right direction.

During the past four years on the council, including serving as the city's current mayor, Burns has done much to move the city forward. He helped develop a budget process that found ways to decrease city expenses and increase revenues, ensuring money was available for improving the wastewater treatment plant and for police. He sheparded a new ordinance that allows the city to better resolve blight problems, a vital step in attracting tourists and businesses to our community. As mayor, he has sought cooperation between the city, county and rancherias, which is necessary as many of our challenges, from increasing tourism to fighting meth, obey no political boundary.

Appointed to the council 18 months ago, Enea also has ensured the city moves ahead. While on the Planning Commission, he helped bring Home Depot to the city. He's been actively involved during the past few months in establishing a visitors bureau, a much needed step for marketing our area to potential tourists. He spearheaded zoning changes so downtown businesses can have apartments above their stores, which in turn brings people to the business district while increasing the local stock of housing in area with limited private land availability. On his own time, he's also helped form a number of Neighborhood Watch programs in the city, a proven way of curbing crime in many other municipalities.

Challengers Kelly Schellong, Dottie Linville and Noya Reno certainly have made positive contributions as well to the community, and we hope they stay actively involved. But Burns' and Enea's experience and success on the council ultimately warrant their re-election.Crescent City voters face the pleasant prospect on Tuesday of choosing from five earnest candidates for City Council. All have been actively involved in the community by volunteering or serving on civic boards. All share similar visions for the city: expanding tourism and the business base, increasing public safety and enhancing residents' quality of life.

But voters only can cast ballots for two candidates. And all things being equal, voters ought to stick with the two incumbents: Dennis Burns and Rich Enea.

The three challengers, while good candidates, simply haven't made the case that they'll do anything differently or better than the incumbents.

And Burns and Enea have proven that they can lead the community in the right direction.

During the past four years on the council, including serving as the city's current mayor, Burns has done much to move the city forward. He helped develop a budget process that found ways to decrease city expenses and increase revenues, ensuring money was available for improving the wastewater treatment plant and for police. He sheparded a new ordinance that allows the city to better resolve blight problems, a vital step in attracting tourists and businesses to our community. As mayor, he has sought cooperation between the city, county and rancherias, which is necessary as many of our challenges, from increasing tourism to fighting meth, obey no political boundary.

Appointed to the council 18 months ago, Enea also has ensured the city moves ahead. While on the Planning Commission, he helped bring Home Depot to the city. He's been actively involved during the past few months in establishing a visitors bureau, a much needed step for marketing our area to potential tourists. He spearheaded zoning changes so downtown businesses can have apartments above their stores, which in turn brings people to the business district while increasing the local stock of housing in area with limited private land availability. On his own time, he's also helped form a number of Neighborhood Watch programs in the city, a proven way of curbing crime in many other municipalities.

Challengers Kelly Schellong, Dottie Linville and Noya Reno certainly have made positive contributions as well to the community, and we hope they stay actively involved. But Burns' and Enea's experience and success on the council ultimately warrant their re-election.